Cold Blow and the Rainy Night
Planxty · 1974
45 min · 10 tracks · music of Ireland
A vibrant tapestry of traditional Irish melodies interwoven with contemporary arrangements and spirited performances.
Top tracks — play these first
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Cold Blow and the Rainy Night — The title track serves as a haunting exploration of loss and longing, perfectly encapsulating the album's emotional core through its evocative lyrics and arrangement.
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The Lakes of Pontchartrain — This rendition showcases Planxty's ability to merge storytelling with melodic beauty, highlighting their skillful instrumentation and vocal harmonies that draw listeners in.
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Dennis Murphy's Polka / The £42 Cheque / John Ryan's Polka — This medley exemplifies the band's energy and virtuosity, combining lively dance rhythms that invite engagement while demonstrating their deep roots in traditional folk culture.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album combines traditional and contemporary elements, showcasing strong musicianship but with some unevenness in flow.
What we noticed
- Several tracks incorporate call-and-response vocal patterns, enhancing the communal feel typical of folk music traditions.
- Composition 25% of the score
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6/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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7/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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5/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- spirited performances with lively energy
- short bursts of traditional melodies
- inviting sing-alongs with friends
- a tapestry of vibrant arrangements
Maybe skip if you
- prefer lengthy, immersive albums
- want heavy production
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released in 1974, Cold Blow and the Rainy Night was Planxty's debut album, marking the beginning of their influential role in the Irish folk revival. At this point, the band was comprised of well-known musicians such as Christy Moore and Andy Irvine, who were eager to blend traditional music with a modern approach.
- Stylistic neighbors
- The Chieftains· Altan· Lúnasa
Moments worth listening for
Where the writing does something specific.
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Cold Blow and the Rainy Night
The narrative shifts from reminiscence to a direct confrontation with sorrow creates a poignant tension.
This structural choice intensifies the emotional weight of the song by breaking from a reflective tone into an urgent plea, highlighting personal stakes.
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Johnny Cope 5:16
- 2 Dennis Murphy's Polka / The £42 Cheque / John Ryan's Polka 3:07
- 3 Cold Blow and the Rainy Night 2:40
- 4 "P" Stands for Paddy, I Suppose 4:36
- 5 The Old Torn Petticoat / The Dublin Reel / The Wind That Shakes the Barley 3:47
- 6 Báneasá's Green Glade / Mominsko Horo 5:58
- 7 The Little Drummer 3:17
- 8 The Lakes of Pontchartrain 5:47
- 9 The Hare in the Corn / The Frost Is All Over / The Gander in the Pratie Hole 4:23
- 10 The Green Fields of Canada 6:55
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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